Making Pain Relief a Universal Right: HPCAN President Calls for Action on World Hospice and Palliative Care Day 2026
By Isaac Eranga
ABUJA — On the occasion of World Hospice and Palliative Care Day 2026, healthcare leaders and advocacy groups across Nigeria and the globe are uniting under a critical health mandate: “Pain Management: An Essential Part of Palliative Care.”
In an inspiring message delivered to members of the Hospice and Palliative Care Association of Nigeria (HPCAN) and the global medical community, HPCAN National President Prof. Tonia C. Onyeka underscored the urgent need to integrate comprehensive pain relief into healthcare delivery, calling for an end to avoidable suffering.
A Call to Relieve Avoidable Suffering
Highlighting the stark realities faced by thousands of patients with life-limiting illnesses, Prof. Onyeka urged practitioners and policymakers alike to renew their commitment to compassionate, person-centered healthcare.
“Let us renew our commitment to relieving suffering and ensuring that no one lives or dies in avoidable pain,” Prof. Onyeka stated, addressing colleagues across the health sector.
The theme for 2026 brings renewed focus to access to essential medicines, particularly controlled pain medications and analgesics, which often remain out of reach for vulnerable patient populations due to regulatory barriers, distribution bottlenecks, and cost constraints.
Honoring Frontline Resilience and Global Advocacy
Prof. Onyeka praised the unwavering dedication of HPCAN members who deliver critical care across hospitals, hospices, and community centers throughout Nigeria—frequently under resource-constrained conditions.
- Recognizing Local Efforts: “Thank you for your compassion, resilience, and unwavering service, often in challenging circumstances. Your work matters, every patient matters, and every act of kindness makes a difference.”
- Mobilizing Global Action: The association called on the global healthcare network to continuously advocate for policy reforms that safeguard access to essential pain medicines and elevate palliative care from an elective service to a fundamental human right.
Moving Forward: Pain Relief as a Universal Mandate
As World Hospice and Palliative Care Day 2026 is observed, HPCAN’s leadership emphasizes three key strategic pillars for the future of palliative medicine in Nigeria and beyond:
- Access to Essential Medicines: Streamlining regulatory pathways and supply chains to ensure that essential pain relievers and palliative drugs are consistently available to those in need.
- Capacity Building & Training: Equipping primary, secondary, and tertiary healthcare workers with specialized skills in holistic pain management and compassionate patient support.
- Policy & Rights Advocacy: Championing national and international legislation that recognizes dignity in illness and end-of-life care as a basic health right.
In closing her address, Prof. Onyeka expressed solidarity with palliative care professionals worldwide, issuing a powerful rallying cry: “Together, let us make pain relief a reality, dignity a priority, and compassionate care a right for everyone who needs it.”
